Overview

In this unique work, a collection of Catholic scholars address several theological topics about which Latter-day Saints and Catholics hold contrary beliefs: the Great Apostasy, the papacy, the Eucharist, the Trinity, the Incarnation, the nature of God, justification, sainthood, liturgy, and deification. The contributors, some of whom are converts to Catholicism from Mormonism, offer a respectful, though critical, analysis of the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Catholics have done very little thinking about or interaction with Latter-day Saint theological beliefs. The Catholic Church has focused virtually all its ecumenical efforts on the ecclesial communities that arose from the Reformation, the Orthodox Churches, and Judaism. Left out of these discussions has been the LDS church, even though by 2016 it had grown to nearly sixteen million members internationally from its modest beginnings in 1830. This work examines the LDS faith as an important and serious challenge to the Catholic narrative of the origin and development of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Absent the ad hominem attacks and lurid historical details that are often found in popular Christian assessments of the LDS church, this book is intended by its editors to lead to further dialogue and better understanding.

Full Product Details

9781586179250

Table of Contents

Reviews

""An invaluable set of essays on the debate between Catholicism and Mormonism, by a superb assembly of scholars."" -- Edward Feser, Ph.D., Author, Five Proofs of the Existence of God ""This book represents a serious leap forward in the quest for sincere, respectful, yet critical dialogue between Catholicism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I highly recommend it to people of both faiths seeking to understand the important doctrines that both divide and unite Catholics and Mormons."" -- Jeremy Christiansen, Author, From the Susquehanna to the Tiber: A Memoir of Conversion ""The Latter-day Saints are often ignored by all but a handful of Christian thinkers. This book steps into this void with an assemblage of stellar Catholic scholars. Those interested in engaging Mormons at a higher level than standard pop apologetics will find much to ponder in these pages."" -- Douglas Beaumont, Ph.D., Author, Evangelical Exodus: Evangelical Seminarians and Their Paths to Rome ""This work brings together some of the most important Catholic thinkers of our time to engage with one of the most important religions of our time, Mormonism. Anyone encountering Latter-day Saints would be well advised to read this book."" -- Christopher Kaczor, Ph.D., Author, The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church ""When asked, 'What do Mormons teach? Are Mormons Christian?', I've been at a loss for a good resource to recommend. So I am grateful to have this volume that will be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand LDS teaching and how it is similar to orthodox Catholicism in some respects and yet different in many others."" -- Randall Smith, Ph.D., Professor of Theology, University of St. Thomas, Houston ""An indispensable resource. This nuanced and insightful volume explores with clarity and charity essential topics such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, deification, liturgical worship, the sacraments, the papacy, and the relationship between faith and works. A model of interfaith dialogue and first-rate theological scholarship made accessible to a broad audience."" -- James Lee, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Early Christianity, Southern Methodist University

Author Information

Francis J. Beckwith, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies at Baylor University. Among his many books are The New Mormon Challenge and Taking Rites Seriously: Law, Politics, and the Reasonableness of Faith, winner of the American Academy of Religion's 2016 Book Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion in the category of Constructive-Reflective Studies. Richard Sherlock, Ph.D., a former Mormon who became Catholic in 2012, was a professor of philosophy for thirty-seven years at Utah State University.

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